“Why Nigerian Govt Is Yet to Prosecute Diezani,” Top Lawyer Speaks

• A prominent Nigerian lawyer and former EFCC prosecutor Wahab Shittu has waded into Diezani Alison-Madueke's delayed trial in Nigeria over alleged corruption
• In a trending interview, Shittu revealed that complex legal processes are complicating the successive government's efforts to extradite ex-minister Diezani to Nigeria for trial
• Diezani has remained in the United Kingdom since the end of Jonathan's administration, where she has not been able to appear in Nigerian courts for trial

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

A senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wahab Shittu, has revealed the challenge the federal government is faced with in the quest to extradite ex-minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for trial.

FG to receive $52.88 million linked to Diezani

Shittu spoke on Channels Television’s 'Politics Today' programme, monitored by Legit.ng on Friday, January 10, 2025.

He reacted to the American government's return of $52.88 million in recovered assets to Nigeria.

The recoveries were linked to a former Nigerian minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her associates.

What Shtiiu said about Diezani's extradition

According to Shittu, “legal and extra-legal hurdles” remain a significant challenge in the extradition of the ex-minister for prosecution back home.

Explaining further, the senior lawyer added:

“You know the extradition procedures of getting somebody who has taken flight from one country to another involve legal compliance procedures that must be satisfied before someone can be extradited to Nigeria.

“There are judicial procedures and international administrative protocols that must be complied with.

“Successive Nigerian governments, particularly this administration, are making efforts to ensure Diezani is brought back to face her trials. However, legal and extra-legal hurdles remain a significant challenge.

“These challenges demonstrate the complexity of international justice systems adding that “but efforts must continue until justice is served.”

Meanwhile, Alison-Madueke, who was Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015, is charged with receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.

But she was granted a £70,000 bail in the United Kingdom (UK) court over a £100,000 bribery allegation.

The former minister appeared before Michael Snow of the Westminster Magistrates Court in the UK on Monday, October 2, 2023, where she was granted bail.

Read more about Diezani Alison-Madueke:

• “Stop using my name”: Drama as Diezani’s former husband drags ex-minister to court, details emerge
• Buhari, Ganduje, Diezani, 3 other politicians born on Christmas Day, December
• Diezani loses properties, cars worth N1.6bn as court gives final forfeiture order, photos of mansions emerge

Did Diezani beg Tinubu to return to Nigeria?

Meanwhile, the former minister of petroleum denied granting an interview in London recently where she begged President Bola Tinubu to allow her to return home.

Diezani, who served in Goodluck Jonathan's government, fled Nigeria in 2015 and has been in the United Kingdom (UK).

The erstwhile minister said she did not grant any interview recently and described the report as “fake” and “concocted.”